Obituaries

May 12, 1994|Compiled by Nelda Knemeyer

SARAH E.B. BAEZ

HAMPTON - Mrs. Sarah Earley Branch Baez, 79, died Sunday, May 8, 1994, after a lengthy illness. A native of Mahern, Virginia, Mrs. Baez was a resident on the Peninsula for over 40 years. For many happy years she lived in the 44th Street area of Newsome Park with her first late husband, Thomas M. Branch Sr. They later moved to and she was currently a resident of North Aberdeen. She later married the late Juan Baez.

Mrs. Baez retired from the Virginia School of Hampton laundry.

She held the position of president of the Communion Stewards of the St. James United Methodist Church, Hampton, for over 10 years, where she served faithfully until her illness. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women and the Craft Club of St. James, Joynes Road. Mrs. Baez initiated the after-church refreshments, which continues to be observed each Sunday.

Survivors include three sons, Thomas M. Branch Jr., Robert O. Branch and Wendell E. Branch; one daughter, Sandra B. Walker; two daughters-in-law, Iris W. Branch and Kim Branch, all of Hampton; two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Lewis of N.Y. City, N.Y., Edleen Earley of Hempstead, N.Y.; one brother, Jack Earley of Philadelphia, Pa.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The service will be held at St. James United Methodist Church at 1533 West Queen Street on Friday, May 13, 1994, at 1 p.m.. Funeral arrangements by Cooke Bros. Family will assemble at 16 N. Walker Road by noon.

YORKTOWN - MSgt (Ret) Kenneth E. Duffey, 43, a native of Springfield, Ohio, died Wednesday, May 11, 1994. He was a Peninsula resident for two years with his wife, Jung Ja Duffey and daughter, Un Hae.

MSgt Duffey retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1991 after 20 years of service as an aircraft maintenance specialist and was currently working at the Norfolk Naval Depot in the same capacity. He was a member of the Peninsula Korean Baptist Church, where he was a deacon.

He was also survived by two additional daughters and two sons.

A prayer service will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home with visitation following until 8:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday at Peninsula Korean Baptist Church by Pastor Ki Il Kim with burial to follow in the Garden of Eden Church Cemetery, Newport News.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Arthur Renard Greene, 42, died Tuesday, May 10, 1994, at home. He was a former Newport News resident and a 1969 graduate of Huntington High School. After serving in the Vietnam War he made Colorado Springs his permanent residence.

He is survived by three daughters, Kenya Greene, Autumn Greene and Kala Greene of Colorado; one son, Arthur Greene Jr. of Colorado; and one granddaughter; his mother, Arrie C. Stevens and stepfather, Charles I. Stevens of Hampton; three brothers, Eric L. Stevens of Newport News, William E. Stevens and Terrence Stevens of Hampton; two sisters, Janis S. Russell of Hampton and Angela S. Vanhook of Newport News; grandparents, Arthur and Dorothy Greene of Newport News; companion and special friend, Mary Reich of Colorado.

Funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Newport News, by Rev. Ralph Hines. Cremation will follow. Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at O.H. Smith & Son Funeral Home, Newport News. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Assemble at 21 Sacramento Drive, Apt. 11 G, Hampton, by 2 p.m. Saturday.

HERBERT GROSS JR.

HAMPTON - Retired Sgt. Maj. Herbert G. Gross Jr., age 59, who retired in 1984 after 30 years win the U.S. Army, died Thursday, May 11, 1994. He was a native of Vinton, Va., and had been a resident of Hampton since 1981.

Mr. Gross was a civil servant working at Langley Air Force Base at the time of his death. He was a member of American Legion Post 31 and a past member of the Masons. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.

HIs Army career included service during the occupation of Berlin as well as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His numerous awards and citations included the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and nine awards of the Good Conduct Medal.